davis



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1 IR. DAVIS.

OAR COUPLING.

No. 376,734. I Patented Jan. 24,1888.

WTW

(No Model.) -2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

V. R. DAVIS. GAR COUPLING.

NO; 376,734. Patented Jan. 24, 1888.

' UNIT D STATES VAN R. DAVIS, 0F

PATENT OFFICE.

TEMPLE, GEORGIA.

' CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,734, dated January24,1888.

Application filed October 6, 1887. Serial No. 251,644. I (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- x Be it known that I, VAN R. DAVIS,acitizen of the United States, residing at Temple, in the county ofOarroll'and State of Georgia,

5 have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticOar-Couplers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enableothersskilled-inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the lettersand'figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification. My invention relates to certain improvements in carcouplers; and it has for its objectsv to provide for automaticallycoupling and uncoupling the cars, so as'to prevent theneces sity of aroad-hand from entering between the.

cars, and thus preventthe accidents attendant upon the ordinary methodsof coupling and uncoupling. These objects I attain by the meansillustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which r Figure 1 is a bottomplan view showing the couplerjoined. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of thecoupler detached. Fig. 3,is a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 4is'a side elevation of wheel-shaft and chain connection.

The letter A indicates the truck of the car, and B the draw-bar, securedthereto in the ordinary manner. The 'draw-bar does not extend quite tothe end of the truck, and at its outward end it is slotted horizontally,as shown in the drawings, the slot forming a recess wherein the shank ofthe coupling-link G is pivoted. The outward end of the draw-bar issquared for about two-thirds of its width, as indicated by the letter a,the remaining portion of its width being rounded, as indicated by theletter I) in the drawings. The coupling link at the part adjoining theshank is shouldered, as indicated, about two-thirds of the width of theshoulders being squared, so as to set firmly against the squared portionof the V of the link from sudden shocks when the cars are stopped,-whichwould be apt to injure or.

break it. The curved portions of the respective parts of the draw-barand link permit the link to move laterally for the purpose of couplingand uncoupling. The link at its'forward end is hooked, as indicated bythe letter 0-, so

link of the connecting car. each link is beveled, as indicated by theletter each other laterally until the hooked portions pass and are inposition to be engaged. The

engagement'is eflected bymeans of the fiat)- springs e, which press thelinks'toward each other. T g

To the outer ends of the link is secured an eye or'staple, D, from whichextends a chain to an upright shaft, E, which is journaled in 5 abovethe floor of the car and hasa hand-wheel {p at its uppenend, by which itmay Ice-turned;

the truck of the car. The said shaft projects \The said shaft is alsosquared at g, and has a ratchet-wheel secured to it at that point,which7o.

is engaged by a pawl, h, whereby the'wheel and the link may be locked tohold the link back out of engaging position when required.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s

. In a car-coupler, the draw-bar B, horizontally pivoted to the shank G,backed by the flat spring e, secured horizontally to said drawbar,andthe inward rear-extension grip-piece,c, Y

in combination with the eye D, connected by chain to square shaftE,'having ratchet adapted to engage with pawl h onplatformv of car, allarrangedand operated substantially as shown and specified.

y In testimony whereof I affi'x my signaturein;

presence of two witnesses. V

VAN R. DAVIS.

Witnesses: J OEL PHILLIPs,

' Tnos. B; GRIFFIN.

